Wall of interlocked, adhesively secured building blocks and sealing means therebetween



June 21, 1966 w. B. PHIPPS 3,256,657

WALL OF INTERLOCKED, ADHESIVELY SECURED BUILDING BLOCKS AND SEALING MEANS THEREBETWEEN Filed Jan. so. 1963 Ward B. Phipps 1N VENTOR.

M4052. BY m United States Patent 3 256 657 WALL 0F INTERLO CKED, ADHESIVELY SE- CURED BUILDING BLOCKS AND SEALING MEANS THEREBETWEEN Ward R. Phipps, Terreton, Idaho, assignor to Idaho Investment Corporation, a corporation of Idaho Filed Jan. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 254,989 3 Claims. (Cl. 52--227) This invention relates particularly to a novel building block having novel and improved structural features which enable a plurality of blocks having the same characteristics to be assembled in a plurality of horizontal courses for forming a wall.

The building blocks of the present invention are arranged in vertically superimposed horizontal courses with the joints between adjacent blocks in individual courses being staggered in the conventional manner of forming a wall. However, the building blocks of the present invention include novel structural details which enable the usual mortar joint to be eliminated thereby simplifying the assembly of the blocks into a vertical wall.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a building block having grooves in the periphery thereof where the blocks normally engage an adjacent block together with a sealing strip in each pair of aligned and matching grooves for sealing the entire periphery of the blocks to each other thereby forming a building wall which is weatherproof both as to water and wind.

Another object of the present invention is to provide building blocks having interlocking tongue and grooves on the end edges thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a building block having a recess in one end thereof for receiving a window sash frame.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a building block in the form of a corner block having the sealing and interlocking features set forth in preceding objects incorporated'into a portion of the side wall thereof thereby enabling a corner-to be turned in a wall construction.

Still another important feature of the present invention is to provide a reversal building block having duplicate ends thereon insofar as the interlocking connection 'is concerned thereby enabling the orientation of the tongues and, grooves on the blocks to be reversed.

Yet another very important feature of the present invention is to provide a building block assembly with the individual blocks having means therein receiving a tensioning wire with the corner block receiving a tensioning bolt or the like for tensioning the wall structure for retaining it in assembled relation.

Yet another very important feature incorporated into this invention is the construction of the building blocks of an accurate size such as the conventional 16" X 8 x 8" size with a very thin coating of adhesive being employed for securing the blocks together thereby eliminating the tedious application of mortar for a mortar joint and-enabling the blocks to be more easily assembled and aligned into their proper courses.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a building block which is simple in construction, easy to use, effective for its particular purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentalperspective view of a wall illustrating certain of the building .blocks of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the building blocks and the orientation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the vertical joint between adjacent blocks;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a modified wall structure employing a different type of'corner block;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one form of window block having a recess therein for receiving a window sash;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the corner block illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one form of reversing block.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a wall structure having the usual horizontal courses of individual building blocks designated by numeral 12. The blocks 12 are supported in a conventional manner such as footing 14 or the like. The individual blocks 12 are of conventional size such as 16" X 8" X 8" with the opposed surfaces thereof being generally parallel. Disposed vertically in each of the blocks 12 is a pair of openings or cores 16 which are tapered from the top to the bottom thereof and the blocks may be constructed of any suitable cementitious material such as employed in building blocks and are constructed using conventional building block forming machinery.

The top surface of each block 12 is provided with a pair of continuous V-shaped grooves 18 therein and the bottom surface of each block is provided with corresponding V-shaped grooves 20 therein so that when the building blocks 12 are stacked atop of each other as illustrated, in FIGURE 2, the grooves 18 and 20 will be aligned. Disposed in the grooves 18 and 20 is a sealing strip 22 having a central wire 24 embedded therein. The sealing strip 22 is in the form of a foam plastic material such as styrofoarn in which the wire 24 is embedded. The sealing strip 22 is the same shape and configuration as the aligned and matched grooves 18 and 20 thus forming a sealing strip for the juncture between the tops and bottoms of adjacent vertically stacked building blocks. Also, each end wall of each block is provided with a V-shaped groove 26 of the same shape and size as the grooves 18' and 20 and when the end edges of adjacent blocks 12 are brought into registry with each other, the.

grooves 26 form a vertical recess or passage receiving a sealing strip 28 identical to the sealing strip 22. Thus,

1 each of the blocks 12 is sealed peripherally thereof to adjacent building blocks for forming a weathertight seal between adjacent blocks. The sealing strips 22 and 28 will effectively prevent passage of water or moisture and also prevent passage of wind through the wall.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, one end wall of each block 12 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel grooves 30 of semi-circular cross-sectional configuration and the other end of each block 12 is provided with a pair of projecting tongues 32 of semi-circular cross-sectional configuration for interlocking engagement with the grooves 30. Thus, the tongue and groove assembly 30 and 32 serves to interlock the adjacent blocks at the end edges thereof and also retain the blocks ineach course aligned with each other.

When the wall 10 is being formed with the building blocks 12, the abutting surfaces of the building blocks are provided with a very. thin coating of a suitable adhesive such as an epoxy resin or the like which will not only serve to temporarily retain the sealing strips 22 and 28 in position but will also serve as a bonding agent for an additional seal between the building blocks. By using the very thin coating of adhesive, the building blocks may be made accurately to the desired size thereby eliminating variations in the building blocks and eliminating the necessity to vary the mortar joint so that the courses of building blocks will be retained in a proper orientation.

The top surface of each building block 12 is provided with a longitudinal groove 34 therein which receives a wire member 36 which ties the building blocks together in end-to-end relation. The terminal end of the wire 36 may be connected to an eyebolt 38 having an adjustment nut 40 on the threaded end thereof whereby tightening of the nut 40 will retain the building blocks 12 in aligned and assembled condition with the wire 36 being under tension. The grooves 34 communicate with the top surface of each of the building blocks and the core 16 enable access to be had to the adjusting nut 40.

Where the orientation of the tongues and grooves is desired to be reversed, a building block as illustrated in FIGURE 7 is employed. This building block is designated by numeral 42 and is the same as the building block 12 except that tongues 44 are provided on each end thereof rather than grooves being provided on one end and tongues on the other. Another type of reversal block may be provided in which grooves are provided in each end of the block rather than grooves in one end and tongues on the other end.

FIGURE 5 illustrates another form of building block 46 in which one end edge is smooth as indicated by numeral 48 and provided with an enlarged groove or recess extending vertically therethrough for receiving a window sash frame or the like. This type of block is known as a window block and is made in both rights and lefts and may either have tongues 52 on the opposite end thereof or grooves such as'the grooves 30 in the opposite end thereof. Other than providing the smooth surface 48 and the recess 50, the building block 46 is the same as the building block 12.

FIGURES 1 and 6 disclose a corner block 54 in which the outer end Wall is planar as designated by numeral 56. However, the grooves 26 are provided on the side wall of the block 54 adjacent the planar end thereof thus enabling a corresponding block 12 to be engaged therewith so that the wall may turn a corner. The corner block 54 also has the semi-circular grooves 30 therein and the top and bottom surfaces thereof have the longitudinal grooves 18 and 20 therein but there is also provided two transverse grooves 18 and 20 so that the overlying course of building blocks may be disposed in perpendicular relation to the corner block 54.

The tensioning wire 36 is a relatively heavy gage galvanized wire which runs from terminal-to-terminal in each tier or course of blocks with the take-up nut on the eyebolt serving to pull the entire course of blocks tightly together. The insulated wire serves the purpose of sealing the juncture between adjacent blocks and serves some-- what as an aligning means although the tongue and groove assemblies primarily align and interlock the abutting ends of the blocks.

The light layer of adhesive may be less than of an inch in thickness thus eliminating the relatively thick mortar joint between the blocks. The insulation strip completely surrounds each block making the blOCks absolutely windproof and waterproof. The small wire running through the one-half inch square strips of insulation provides an extra degree of strength for the insulation material. If desired, this wire may be anchored at each end of each wall and these wires may also be tightened if desired. The interlocking assembly includes 2 one inch tongue and groove interconnections between the adjacent blocks and the tongue and grooves will also be coated with a light coat of adhesive such as epoxy resin or the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous mod- 4 ifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wall assembly constructed of a plurality of building blocks arranged in horizontally vertically stacked courses of end-to-end abutted blocks, said blocks including opposing top and bottom and opposite end surfaces, having a plurality of longitudinally spaced upstanding bores formed therethrough opening through said top and .bottom surfaces and spaced from the opposite end surfaces of said blocks and generally equally between said opposite side surfaces, and a pair of opposite side upper and lower opposing longitudinal grooves formed in said opposing top and bottom surfaces, respectively, spaced between said bores and the adjacent side surfaces of said blocks and opening through said opposite end surfaces, the opposing opposite end surfaces of aid blocks having pairs of opposing opposite side upstanding grooves formed therein extending between the adjacent ends of the corresponding grooves formed in the corresponding top and bottom surfaces, said end surfaces, inwardly of said upstanding grooves, having upstanding complementary tongue and grooves formed thereon extending between said top and bottom surfaces, said upper surfaces each also having a center groove formed therein extending between the corresponding end surfaces and opening through the portion of said blocks defining the upper ends of the corresponding upstanding bores, an elongated horizontal sealing strip seated in each pair of opposing upper and lower grooves and an elongated upstanding sealing strip seated in each pair of opposing upstanding end grooves, an elongated tension wire extending through the center grooves of each course of blocks and including end wise adjustable anchor abutment means disposed in the adjacent bores of the endmost blocks of each course of blocks and abuttingly engaging the portions of the endmost blocks defining the upper portion of said adjacent bores through which the corresponding center grooves open whereby the blocks of each course of blocks may be placed under compression after each course of blocks is formed with a thin coating of relatively slow setting adhesive disposed between the opposing faces of said blocks.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bores taper toward their lower ends and the bores in each block are registered with the bores formed in the adjacent blocks disposed thereabove and therebelow.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing strips in said horizontal grooves include reinforcing members extending longitudinally thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,824 6/1900 Cottom 52-437 1,409,284 3/1922 Fernelmont 52-436 1,817,022 8/1931 Slidell et a1 52437 1,974,564 9/1934 Donovan 52589 2,164,457 7/1939 Hubbell 52-306 X 2,326,708 8/1943 Wanner 52l00 2,340,263 1/1944 Dodson 52--227 2,413,268 12/ 1946 Unverferth 52-408 2,684,589 7/1954 Perreton 52589 2,835,126 5/1958 Paolella 52169 3,003,810 10/1961 Kloote et al 52-309 X FOREIGN PATENTS 4126/26 1/ 1928 Australia.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner.

J. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WALL ASSEMBLY CONSTRUCTED OF A PLURALITY OF BUILDING BLOCKS ARRANGED IN HORIZONTALLY VERTICALLY STACKED COURSES OF END-TO-END ABUTTED BLOCKS, SAID BLOCKS INCLUDING OPPOSING TOP AND BOTTOM AND OPPOSITE END SURFACES, HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED UPSTANDING BORES FORMED THERETHROUGH OPENING THROUGH SAID TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES AND SPACED FROM THE OPPOSITE END SURFACES OF SAID BLOCKS AND GENERALLY EQUALLY BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACES, AND A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE UPPER AND LOWER OPPOSING LONGITUDINAL GROOVES FORMED IN SAID OPPOSING TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES, RESPECTIVELY, SPACED BETWEEN SAID BORES AND THE ADJACENT SIDE SURFACES OF SAID BLOCKS AND OPENING THROUGH SAID OPPOSITE END SURFACES, THE OPPOSING OPPOSITE END SURFACES OF SAID BLOCKS HAVING PAIRS OF OPPOSING OPPOSITE END SURFACES OF SAID BLOCKS HAVING THEREIN EXTENDING BETWEEN THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE CORRESPONDING GROOVES FORMED IN THE CORRESPONDING TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES, SAID END SURFACES, INWARDLY OF SAID UPSTANDING GROOVES, HAVING UPSTANDING COMPLEMENTARY TONGUE AND GROOVES FORMED THEREON EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES, SAID UPPER SURFACES EACH ALSO HAVING A CENTER GROOVE FORMED THEREIN EXTENDING BETWEEN THE CORRESPONDING END SURFACES AND OPENING THROUGH THE PORTIONS OF SAID BLOCKS DEFINING THE UPPER ENDS OF THE CORRESPONDING UPSTANDING BORES, AN ELONGATED HORIZONTAL SEALING STRIP SEATED IN EACH PAIR OF OPPOSING UPPER AND LOWER GROOVES AND AN ELONGATED UPSTANDING SEALING STRIP SEATED IN EACH PAIR OF OPPOSING UPSTANDING AND GROOVES AN ELONGATED TENSION WIRE EXTENDING THROUGH THE CENTER GROOVES OF EACH COURSE OF BLOCKS AND INCLUDING END WISE ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR ABUTMENT MEANS DISPOSED IN THE ADJACENT BORES OF THE ENDMOST BLOCKS OF EACH COURSE OF BLOCKS AND ABUTTINGLY ENGAGING THE PORTIONS OF THE ENDMOST BLOCKS DEFINING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID ADJACENT BORES THROUGH WHICH THE CORRESPONDING CENTER GROOVES OPEN WHEREBY THE BLOCKS OF EACH COURSE OF BLOCKS MAY BE PLACED UNDER COMPRESSION AFTER EACH COURSE OF BLOCKS IS FORMED WITH A THIN COATING OF RELATIVELY SLOW SETTING ADHESIVE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE OPPOSING FACES OF SAID BLOCKS. 